Grid Operations Specialist

Responsible for providing direct technical support to control center personnel. Perform power flows, transient stability, and contingency analyses to identify transmission constraints during planned and forced outages. Assists in the areas of operational real-time load and generation forecasting. Responsible for the maintenance of crucial advanced applications software associated with the Tri-State Energy Management System (EMS). This includes Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Automatic Generation Control (AGC) functionality, State Estimator (SE) software, Contingency Analysis and Security Analysis (CA/SA), and the Operator Training Simulator (OTS). Special applications such as the Generation Plant Allocator integration are also in the scope of this position. This position also requires the creation of real-time power system calculations. This position is tasked with authority and responsibility to comply with all applicable NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) standards and Regional Entity Reliability Standards.

Not

e : There is one position available, and this position will be filled at one of four job grade levels: Grid Operations Specialist I, job grade 8; Grid Operations Specialist II, job grade 9; Grid Operations Specialist III, job grade 10 or Senior Grid Operations Specialist, job grade 11. This decision will be based on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate and Tri-State business needs at the time of hire

.

Tri-State recognizes the value of a highly engaged and committed workforce and provides an excellent benefits program that includ

es : Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Flexible Work Schedules including compressed work week and telecommuting opportunities to work remotely up to 40%, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance, Retirement Option, Long Term Disability (LTD), Short Term Disability (STD), Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and Paid Leave Benefit

s.

Senior Grid Operations Special

istHiring Salary Range: $118,000-$151,

000

Grid Operations Specialist

IIIHiring Salary Range: $106,000-$135

,000

Grid Operations Speciali

st IIHiring Salary Range: $96,000-$12

1,000

Grid Operations Specia

list IHiring Salary Range: $86,000-$1

08,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring salary range based upon work experience, education and/or skill

level.

Responsib

- ilities:Responsible for performing real-time contingency analyses for forced and planned

- outages.Performing next-day and real-time power flow and transient stability a

- nalyses.Support the entire suite of Tri-State advanced network applications including the SE, CA/SA, OTS, AGC, and Generating Plant Output All

- ocators.Ensure high quality and accurate network application solutions, achieved by tuning the network model and correcting issues with real-time telemetry, model parameters, and other appropriate m

- easures.Analyze transmission system failures and work with other Tri-State support personnel to identify corrective actions and implement changes as necessary. This includes extensive coordination with Tri-State System Metering, Maintenance, EMS, and Transmission System Operations Pe

- rsonnel.Coordinate load shedding plans with the BAs and RCs as identified in NERC Standard

- EOP-003.Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures and attain knowledge and remain knowledgeable of regulations, laws, standards, and best practices applicable to function

- al area.Interface with the EMS functional area regarding state estimator, contingency analysis, real-time model, and training si

- mulator.Assist in the development of the specifications, related software and hardware, and documentation for the training si

- mulator.Coordinate Transmission System Operations needs with Power Marketing, Transmission Maintenance, Transmission Engineering, and Transmission Planning functiona

- l areas.Maintain the transmission line data catalog for Transmission System Operation

- s needs.Develop and maintain historical records regarding transformer and line loadings to be shared with Transmission Planning and Transmission Engineering to target equipment that may need to be r

- eplaced.Represent Transmission System Operations in pre-construction meetings, LGIA (Large Generator Interconnection Agreement)and LGIP (Large Generator Interconnection Procedures) meetings, new projects meetings and other related m

- eetings.Provide input and approval in the development, implementation and maintenance of Transmission System Operations Procedures, Standing Orders, Sabotage Reporting, and other documents, guidelines and procedures within Transmission System Ope

- rations.Responsible for assisting and directing emergency evacuation training to ensure continued reliable operations in the event the primary transmission control center becomes ino

- perable.Assist and direct the Outage Coordinators in the daily RC/BA (Reliability Coordinator/Balancing Authority) update calls as required in NERC Standard

- TOP-003.Establish SOLs (System Operating Limit) as directed by the RC to ensure consistency with the RC?s SOL methodology. (

- FAC-014)Assist and direct the on-going review and modifications to the emergency operation plans and procedures to ensure the adherence to NERC st

- andards.Coordinate Tri-State G&T operational and next day studies with neighboring utilities

- and RCs.Assist in developing a strategy for optimizing asset utilization in an open

- market.Take a leading role in the Transmission System Operator Training Program coordinating Regional Black Start Drills and other special training requi

- rements.Participate on NERC/WECC/RC committees as ne

- cessary.Participate in the NERC and WECC audits, as r

- equired.Responsible for serving as Acting Operations Support Manager as r

- equired.Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of

the job.Qualifi

cations:Education and

- TrainingBachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering discipline r

- equired.Possess NERC Certification or the ability to become NERC Ce

rtified.Knowledge, Skills, and

- Ability:Knowledge of engineering principles and practices applicable to Transmission System Ope

- rations.Experience of performing power flow studies using PSSE and/or PSLF s

- oftware.Basic knowledge of protection

- system.Working knowledge of State Estimation

- theory.Working knowledge of real-time power systems applications software including Power Flow, AGC,

- and SE.Working knowledge of client/server systems, personal computers, computer peripherals, computer architecture, computer networks, and Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) eq

- uipment.Working knowledge of multi-user shared database envir

- onments.Working knowledge of digital and analog SCADA circuitry, SCADA communications, data links, testing and measuring eq

- uipment.Working knowledge of contract adminis

- tration.Working knowledge of FERC Order 888 and 889 and the Standards of

- Conduct.Ability to develop a working knowledge of FERC Or

- der 890.Excellent oral and written communication

- skills.Working knowledge of Tri-State’s service area

- desired.Ability to establish and maintain effective working relati

- onships.Extensive knowledge of an interconnected electrical

system.Exp

- erience:Eight (8) years of progressive electric utility experience and current NERC Certifi

cati

on. Note : The above requirements describe the experience and education qualifications for the Senior Grid Operations Specialist. Those with less experience will be hired at the I, II or III job grad

e leve

- l.Other:Willingness to travel as required. (Must possess a valid driver’s l

icense.)